The environment and planning practice at Stibbe advises clients in Dutch, French and English on transactional matters as well as on the drafting of new legislation and on contentious issues. Practice head Jan Bouckaert recently represented The Farmers Union together with Guan Schaiko in a claim against the Flemish Region regarding the Common Agricultural Policy 2023-2027 strategic plan. Also key to the practice is senior real estate development lawyer France Maussion as well as a strong bench that includes the ‘very helpful, competent and experienced’ Bastiaan Schelstraete as well as Stefanie Francois and Olivier Di Giacomo.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
‘The environmental team of Stibbe is very competent. It delivers on time, keeps the client close and is always helpful and flexible. One can count on Stibbe.’
‘Bastiaan Schelstraete is very helpful, competent and experienced. He's ready to step to the forefront.’
‘The team is invaluable in our cases with environmental issues. There is a deep and broad knowledge of different aspects of law involved in the cases they handled for us.’
‘Guan Schaiko and Stefanie François combine strong strategic (entrepreneurial) thinking with the final (favourable) result in mind. ’
‘Jan Bouckaert and Stefanie François are very talented and very responsive.’
Work highlights
- Advised the Farmers Union on the issue of a letter of formal notice to the Flemish Region regarding the Common Agricultural Policy 2023-2027 strategic plan, represented the client in subsequent legal proceedings before the court of first instance, and advised the client on the "programmatic approach to nitrogen developed by the Flemish government with a view to gradually reducing nitrogen emissions and depositions in Flanders.
- Assisting the Port of Antwerp-Bruges on expansion known as the Complex Project Extra Container Capacity.
- Represented the European Investment Bank in appeal proceedings lodged by ClientEarth before the European Court of Justice related to the question whether financing decisions of the EIB should by assessed in light of European Environmental Law and whether the Aarhus Regulation applies to the EIB when acting as a bank.
Lawyers
Hall of Fame
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Next Generation Partners
Junior partners with significant recognition from clients and peers in the market and key roles on multiple matters.
Guan Schaiko
StibbePractice head
The lawyer(s) leading their teams.
Jan Bouckaert